Building a 28-29 Closed cab extended pickup???

[Pasthisprime]

Hello all,
I have been spending time with the Brookville catalog and on page 104 I found a listing for parts to construct a mostly complete closed cab EXTENDED body pickup cab. Has anybody else made a list of parts or done one of these? All told it looks like 6500.00. I want a closed car/truck project and have looked at a few beat up bodies and switched to looking at full cars both coupes and two door sedans. I can find sedans for 7-8k range complete but non running. I would really only want the body.....it is a hard call, new sheetmetal or a complete body with interior, windows, grille and hood sides etc.
In any event it will be an old school type of build havenet decided with fenders and running boards or not. Anyways, thanks for any input.

[desotoguy]

Sounds like you are looking to build a modified or hot rod style of car. Before you embark on the project there are a few things I suggest you consider. Do you have a nice roomy shop building to work in and leave the project protected when you are off doing other things? Do you have the tools and equipment to complete a build? Do you have the necessary skills, like welding, fabrication, wiring, body and paint, etc.? Lots of time to spend on a project, they can take a while to complete. And most of all, a hefty bank account that you wish to see drained parts are expensive and who knows what the tariffs will add. In summation, you may want to consider the purchase of a complete car that you can drive and enjoy right away.

[rotorwrench]

The modified cabs made by custom fabricators became models for sheet metal producers such as Brookville and others to create the same effect in kit form. The caveat is that some sheet metal fabricators can be a bit slow to produce such things for paying customers so I would advise folks to be ready for a wild ride if you choose a fabricator that doesn't respond to phone calls or e-mails after receiving money to do the job. Check the company out. Some are good and some are not so good. Brookville has spent more than a lot of companies on tooling and dies to do this stuff and they also have problems with that stuff that can be wasteful of expensive materials if the stamping doesn't turn out to be usable. This is why they have to charge so much.

Custom modifications like extended cabs also require moving the bed back and other mounting modifications. The Jalopy Journal HAMB site is excellent for such modifications that help a DIY guy find ways to do this stuff and do a decent job of it. It's a lot of work over and above just a plain old restoration such as is the body of information on this site.

[wuga]

I have never been an extended cab guy, but driving a RPU, I certainly see the reason for it. I personally like the Tudor, which is really a very extended pickup cab, It allows you to move the front seats back where they are comfortable. I have one and am currently assisting in the building of another. Great for 6+ drivers. But I wander. The real reason I am posting is to say, when you go shopping for a body or body panels, never, NEVER, NEVER ever consider buying from Howel's. If you think I am kidding, search the internet and go onto the HAMB and search Howel's. It is the stuff night mares are made of.
Warren

[denis4x4]

Check out my avatar. You do not need a 6,000 sq ft shop and have 20 years of metal working experience to build an extended cab 28-29 CCPU. I had the cowel and bought used doors. New cab corners are extended 6-1/2" and also bought new upper and lower rear cab panels. Also purchased individual interior wood pieces and made the expended roof wood from white oak. Since I had a louver punch, used it on the cab corners. Howell Sheet metal makes the corners. However, bought them through Bert's as Howell's reputation dealing with individuals leaves a lot to be desired. Seats are Jeep CJ-7 high backs. The short wood stake bed is really handy. This is all bolt together and there's no welding necessary. I do have some wood working skills that helped in building the roof. I don't remember the cost of the new sheet metal, but it was well under $2000 and I put it together in a couple of days.

[bobbader]

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Note that you cannot easily make a 28/29 extended closed cab with a tudor/coupe body. The actual 28/29 pickup doors are 26/27 Model T tudor/coupe doors. The "A" pillar on the cowl is also different from a 28/29 tudor/coupe to a 28/29 pickup. (This is not as big a deal as the doors but would still need modification if using tudor/coupe "A" pillar.) I can only assume there are differences in the side sub-rails and crossrails as well. Not to say you can't do it .................. just saying keep researching before spending even $1000. Good luck.

[Gary WA]

like this HA!!

[Pasthisprime]

I am the OP, I want to thank everybody for their thoughtful replies. As it turns out Brookville doesnt have all the parts they listed in catalog. Brookville wrote back to me and said that their suppiler of the stretched roof and cab corners is no longer providing parts. Secondly the comment about having lots of garage space and a big checkbook got to me and I decided to buy a finished or nearly finished project. I am looking for a closed body either pickup, sedan, or coupe. I live in an area where we have cold weather six months a year and as long as it isnt snowing or they havent salted the roads yet I would like the option of driving an older car. BTW I have had a 33 Nash coupe, 66 Cutlass, 39 Buick and a 54 Chev pickup. I had liked the idea of building a car from the rails up but realistically I think i would rather be driving!!!

[David in San Antonio]

I bought a running car and have been kept very busy fixing it. I cannot imagine trying to build one from the frame up.